The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Liquor Committee Welcomes Public Input

By: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

During the regular board meeting of the Village of Stronghurst on July 1st, the liquor committee reported they had met and were nearing a proposal to bring to the board. However, they felt they would like to have one more meeting to hammer out the final details. At this meeting they would like to have more of the public's input and encourage those who are interested to attend the meeting on Wednesday, July 24th at 6:30 p.m. at the village hall.

The board heard an update on the spray park from Jade Parker and Diana Taylor. The spray park will be named "Dr. Robert Pogue Memorial Spray Park" and will be 2400 square feet. There will be 25 ground jets and 5 above the ground features at an estimated cost of $134,000. To help raise these funds the Stronghurst Booster Club will be selling bricks for a sidewalk to the spray park.

Ronnie Gittings, speaking on behalf of the Stronghurst Booster Club asked permission to use the park on Saturday of Heritage Trail Days to hold a BBQ cook off and flea market. Permission was granted.

The police report for the month of June included: 160.5 hours worked; 6 hours of training; 956 miles on the squad car; 5 traffic stops; 3 verbal warnings; 3 uniform tickets; 3 service calls; 1 arrest; and 18 business checks.

In other business the board:

• heard from randy Jarvis on his renovation of a house along the highway and that he had corked off a tile to his house to prevent water running into the basement.
• voted to have one tree trimmed so it would not damage the village truck shed should it fall and cut down a tree on Main Street going out of town and a tree on Broadway Street that was split.
• passed the appropriation ordinance as amended.
• passed the prevailing wage ordinance.
• discussed what might be done for recreation for older/teenagers during the winter.
• heard the squad car camera should be here at the end of the month and Decatur will be buying back parts of the old camera.
• President Root will talk with Yvonne Knapp of Raritan about writing grants for the village and will invite her to the next meeting.
• auditors had been there the 18th and 19th.
• since new on the board Betty Waterman is required to take the Open Meeting Act test.
• decided to roof the shelter house on the Tri-Angle along the highway. President Root will measure it up and get the materials and then board members will help with the shingling.
• heard there will be a Meet and Greet with Jil Tracy on August 5th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the village hall.
• The board entered executive session at 9:05 p.m. to discuss personnel and possible litigation.

They returned to open session at 9:15 p.m. and made no decisions.

Present at the meeting were: president Gary Root; Trustees, Mike Bohnenkamp, Brendan Schaley, Betty Waterman, Tony Anderson, David Vancil, (Deb Hale absent); Employees, Lou Ann Nortrup, Arbry Vancil, Ronnie Gittings, Mike Nelson, and Bill Rasmussen; Guests, Jade Parker, Diana Taylor, Randy Jarvis, Shirley Linder.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, August 5th at 7:00 p.m at the village hall.